KING CON

Those who remember Jim Rockford's stings on TV will recognize the setup of KING CON, about con man Beano Bates's scheme to avenge his cousin's death--and his own beating--at the hands of mobsters Joe and Tommy Rina. That's because both Rockford and Bates are Stephen J. Cannell creations. Cannell doesn't try to create a new voice for each character, but conveys emotion through inflection. He tends to get a bit breathless with excitement in action scenes. Frequent profanity stands out a bit too much, and changing points of view are occasionally confusing. Even with these flaws, this caper moves briskly and enjoyably. J.A.S. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]